Launch of Smarty Pants, Kitty or Tiger?

Smarty Pants, Kitty or Tiger? is a book that has been written by Sr Nicole Rotaru RSM using the stories and artwork of women and children at McAuley's crisis program, McAuley Care.
The women and children were participating in the Creative Arts Project and gave voice to their experiences of family violence.

Today, Liana Buchanan, Victoria's Commissioner for children and young People launched Smarty Pants, Kitty or Tiger? at the State Library
of Victoria. Liana also wrote a forward for the book and here is an extract:

We are also starting to acknowledge that for too long children have been silent, invisible victims of family violence. We know children are affected by
violence at home in myriad ways. We know children need access to specialised attention and services to help them to deal with, recover from, the impacts
of violence. We know we must do better at supporting children and young people living with family violence.

Image to the left is (left to right) Sr Nicole Rotura RSM, Jocelyn Bignold and Liana Buchanan.

Smarty Pants, Kitty or Tiger? gives a first hand, intimate, disturbing, and sometimes hopeful insight into living within family violence. In this
book women and children who have lived within family violence give voice to their experience through art and story as part of a creative arts project
at McAuley Community Services for Women’s safe house.

This book was developed to give people, young and old, a greater understanding of the impact of family violence on women and children. We hope, through
an understanding of the lived experience of family violence and an awareness of its many manifestations, that as a society we will continue to come
to grips with its shocking reality.

Family violence is a crime. Family violence thrives in silence.

These brave, resilient women and children have spoken loudly through their images and stories. Lindy exclaims, “He had his hands around my neck. I thought
I was going to die. Oh my gosh today is the day I will become a statistic – another woman killed!” David says, “There are a lot of baddies coming.”
Ella utters, “Tiger is looking at a deer or elk. He’s going to catch his prey. He’s going to tear it apart.”

We must listen to these women and children. They are telling us about the fear and threat that family violence is. Their voices are a powerful guide to
the ongoing development of policies and practices that create, promote and sustain a safe community for us all. As we look at the images and read the
unedited stories let’s stand up and say ‘No!’ to family violence.

Thanks to the Campbell Edwards Trust, Mercy Foundation and Institute of Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea for their support of this
project.

Books are now available and are $20, plus postage and handling. Click here to download the order form.

Here are two reviews:

Graham Ashton

Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police

This book gives an insight into the lived experience of family violence of some very courageous and resilient women and children. Too often, and often
too long, their voices have been silenced. In turn, silence has played a part in enabling people to ignore this important issue. Victoria Police responds
to over 600 family violence calls each day. Children are not passive witnesses to this violence; they absorb what is going on; and are deprived of
the wellbeing everyone should feel in their home. As a community we need to critically challenge ourselves about family harm. Listening to the voices
of those who have been impacted is one way we can start

Rosie Batty

Lived experience

The voices of those affected by family violence need to be heard. It is also important for children to be encouraged to express their feelings safely –
they are the most powerless. Being forced to keep the traumatic experience of family violence secret and surrounded by shame does not allow us to grow,
shine or move forward to achieve our true potential. This book will help give invaluable insight to those who seek to understand.

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children

About Us

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

McAuley's Future 'Strengthened'

Sr Kath Tierney was Congregational Leader in 2008 when the Sisters of Mercy decided to amalgamate Mercy Care and Regina Coeli, to form McAuley Community Services for Women. Today, as Treasurer of McAuley’s Board Kath is instrumental in the ongoing development of the specialist service. Read more

McAuley Community Services for Women is building a future from the founding spirit of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.

In 2016-2017, 742 women and children were directly supported through McAuley Programs. Read more about our work in our Annual Report.

Sisters of Mercy Take A Chance

Six years ago the Sisters of Mercy took a risk. It was considered and planned, but a risk nonetheless. They decided to bring together Regina Coeli and Mercy Care to establish McAuley Community Services for Women. Regina Coeli became McAuley House and Mercy Care became McAuley Care. Read more

Mission and Values

In 2016-2017 we supported 742 women and their children to rebuild their lives and have safer, brighter futures. You can read more about our work in
our Annual Report.

McAuley Community Services for Women is committed to advocate for a better, safer and just society.

We are accredited through Quality Improvement and Community Services Accreditation in Victoria, most recently in 2015.

Our Voice Must Be Heard

Our CEO Jocelyn Bignold reviews our achievements in 2016-2017 and highlights that there is still much more to do. Read more

About Us

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

Pebbles Proves Pets are Great Therapy

Pebbles, a border terrier with big fluffy ears, knows all about being loved and hugged, thanks to a special partnership between Lort Smith Animal Hospital and McAuley House. Read more

Partnerships

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

Careers

People who work with us make a big difference to the lives of women who've experienced family violence and homelessness. Read about some of our staff: